’Noles earn prime-time billing vs. Alabama, Miami

Florida State announced today that its first game against Alabama in Atlanta, Ga. will receive a national broadcast on ABC in the 8pm timeslot.

The billing is unsurprising, given the Top 5 matchup - which might be the biggest season-opener ever - and comes as the capstone to a quality opening slate of Saturday games.

But the biggest news comes in the announcement of Miami at FSU earning the same timeslot and national broadcast come September 16th.

Why?

UM will very likely be starting either a former walk-on with no college game experience prior to this fall in RS frosh Evan Shirreffs, or true-freshman N’Kosi Perry, who doesn’t step foot onto campus as a student-athlete until later this summer. The pressure of the moment in A) each quarterback’s first real road game 2) in a rivalry game D) on the national stage will be palpable.

Getting the right protection calls will be critical in the raucous environment. And if UM struggles to stay on schedule, perhaps later in the game due to depth problems at RB, veteran FSU pass rushers could feast on an Miami offensive line having to replace NFLer Danny Isidora (OG) and the injured-and-transferring Sunny Odogwu (RT).

No word as of yet on whether booster lots will open before 3pm (h/t @FSURich) (but seriously, though).